Package holder



April 29, 1941. P, MQENERY 2,239,728

PACKAGE HOLDER Original Filed Jan. 18, 1939 INVENTOR BXW ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 29, 1941 .Ioseph P. McEnery, New York, Y.

Original application January 18, 1939, Serial No. 251,507. Divided and this application December 8, 1939, Serial No. 308,123

. 7 Claims. (01. 248-350 This invention relates to package holders and more especially to holders for use with cigarette packages or the like which are provided with a wrapper so folded at the bottom asto provide a thin passage of the same Width as the package leading from one side to the other thereof.

An object of this invention is a'simple'inexpensive and easily operated holder having a base and one or more tongues associated therewith in such manner as to extend into or through the passageway to secure the package to the base.

Other objects, novel features and advantages of this invention Will become apparent from the following specification and accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a holder embodying the invention and supporting a pack of cigarettes;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through such holder;

Figs. 3 and 4 illustrate schematically the operation of said holder in associating a cigarette package therewith.

Fig. 5 is a View similar to Fig. 2 with a different arrangement of parts;

Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5;

Figs. 7, 8 and 9 are perspective views of modifications, and I Fig. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary section similar to Fig. 2.

Referring now more especially to Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive, I0 represents a wooden block or the like by which the holder may be supported. The holder comprises a base H formed of a single strip of metal bent up to form lateral flanges 12 slanting inwardly and upwardly and having the edges l3 extending vertically downward. To each end of the base II is pivoted an end member 2| shaped when in the position shown in Fig. 5 to close the ends of the base. These end members have vertical portions 22 for co-operation with the vertical edge members l3 to form a recess and tongues 23 constituting platform members. Preferably, one of the tongues 23 is of greater length than the other. At each end of the base II are provided a pair of hinge loops He and each end member 2| is provided with co-operating hinge loops 2111. A pin passes through both pairs of hinge loops and a coil spring 24 surrounds said pin with its ends properly engaging the base 1| and end member 2| to urge said end member into the position shown in Fig. 5, but such spring may be dispensed with if desired.

Normally, the tongues 23 are in the position scribed holder.

- shown in Fig. 5, to which position they are urgedeither by the springs '24 or by gravity if the springs are omitted. The distance between the edge members I3 is just slightly greater thanthe thickness of a standard pack of cigarettes and the distance between'the vertical portions 22 with the tongues 23 in the position of Fig. 5 is just slightly greater than the width of a standard cigarette package. The members I3 and 22 thus define a recess into which the bottom of a cigarette package will fit and constitute guides for the same. I

The standard cigarette package is provided with a wrapper so folded at the bottom end of the package as to provide a thin passageway of substantially the same width as the cigarette package. The existence of this passageway facilitates mounting a cigarette package in the above-de- In associating acigarette package with the holder, the longer tongue 23 is swung upwardly as shown in Fig. 2 and the cigarette package properly moved to cause insertion of the tongue in the passageway. Then, with the short tongue swung upwardly, the cigarette package and the longer tongue are swung downwardly until the tip of the shorter tongue enters the other end of the passageway after which the cigarette package is moved vertically downwardly into the position shown in Fig. 5. Figs. 2 to 5 inclusive, illustrate the various stages above outlined.

In the modification illustrated in Fig. 7, the

I base Ila is provided with fixed side and end flanges 25 and 26 having vertical portions defining a recess for the bottom of the cigarette package and with inwardly directed edge portions 21 upon which the package may rest. To one end of the base is pivoted a tongue or platform member 28 which is equal in length to the length of therecess defined by the vertical portions of the flanges 25 and 26.. The impositive detent 29 engages the end of the tongue 28 when in lowered position to retain it in such position. A spring 28 may be provided for urging the tongue 28 downwardly from the position shown in Fig. 7, but such spring is not necessary and may be dispensed with.

In the modification illustrated in Fig. 8, the structure of the base Ila is substantially the same as that shown in Fig. 7, except that the tongue or platform member 28a constitutes an integral extension of one edge portion 21. The tongue 28a is sufliciently resilient that it may be sprung upwardly sufficiently to effect insertion of the tongue in the cigarette package passageway.

In the modification disclosed in Fig. 9, the base I lb is formed with guides 30 for engagement with the side faces of the bottom of a cigarette package. A tongue 3| is pivotally attached to a tab 32 for engagement in a plane parallel to the plane of the base. A locking member 33 i provided for engagement with the end of the tongue 3| to maintain the latter against upward displacement.

In each of the modifications disclosed in Figs.

7, 8 and 9, the tongue is swung or sprung into a position which makes it possible to effect insertion thereof into the passageway of the bottom of the cigarette package. After such insertion, the tongue is returned to the position in which it holds the cigarette package with its bottom extending into a recess or between guides so that the package is firmly located on the holder.

This application is a division of Serial No. 251,507 filed January 18, 1939.

I claim:

1. A holder for a package having a bottom passageway, said holder comprising a base having parallel guides to receive the bottom of said package, a tongue swingably supported by said base between said guides and adapted to enter said package, said tongue being normally maintained between said guides in position to hold said package on said base but being movable from such position suificiently to enable it to be inserted in said package.

2. A holder for a package having a bottom passageway, said holder comprising a base having parallel guides to receive the bottom of said package, and a tongue pivotally attached at one end to said base between said guides, and being adapted to enter said passage, said tongue being normally maintained between said guides in position to hold said package on said base but being movable from such position sufiiciently to enable it to be inserted in said package.

3. A holder according to claim 2 in which the free end of said tongue is movable perpendicular to the plane of said base.

4. A holder according to claim 2 in which the movement of the free end of said tongue is parallel to the plane of said base.

5. A holder for packages having a bottom passageway comprising a base having'parallel guides to receive the bottom of said package, a pair of tongues pivotally connected to the base at the ends of said guides, said tongues being adapted to enter the opposite ends of said passage and provide a platform for the bottom of said package.

6. A holder according to claim 5 having resilient means normally maintaining said tongues between said guides.

'7. A holder for packages having a bottom passageway comprising a base having parallel guides to receive the bottom of said package, and a tongue pivotally supported by said base for movement in a plane parallel to said base from between said guides, and means on said base for engagement with the swinging end of said tongue when the latter is located between said guides.

JOSEPH P. MCENERY. 

